India-US economic partnership: India will stop buying Russian oil, cut tariffs to zero on many US goods, and back $500B in investments.
India committed to cease purchases of Russian oil and to provide $500 billion in investments into the US, while implementing tariff liberalisation that reduces duties to zero on a wide array of US industrial and agricultural goods. Senior officials held discussions to coordinate economic partnership measures and strategic cooperation on energy, nuclear, defence, and critical minerals.

India-U.S. trade deal: India to stop buying Russian oil and commit $500 billion to U.S. purchases.
India agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil and to direct substantial purchases to the United States (and potentially Venezuela), alongside a reported USD 500 billion commitment to buy U.S. energy, transportation, and agricultural products. The announced arrangement includes reciprocal tariff adjustments-U.S. tariffs on India set at 18% and India reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. exports to zero-and links sovereign procurement shifts with large-scale commercial and investment commitments.

Ex-MLA Baljit Yadav arrested under PMLA for alleged embezzlement of MLA funds.
Arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following investigation into alleged embezzlement of MLA funds, with detention based on suspected laundering and transactional layering arising from the purported misappropriation.

Proposed acquisition of Haldiram Snacks shareholding by L. Catterton India Fund received regulatory approval today.
Approval was granted for the acquisition of certain fully diluted shareholding of Haldiram Snacks Food Private Limited by L. Catterton India Fund, a scheme of L. Catterton India Trust classified as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund; the Target and its affiliates manufacture and sell packaged food products including snacks, sweets, ready to eat, dairy, bakery, chocolates and non carbonated ready to drink beverages, and a detailed regulatory order will follow.

Daiwa to subscribe 15.01% equity in Ambit Wealth; regulatory approval granted by foreign intermediary investor.
Approval has been granted for a subscription to 15.01% equity shareholding in Ambit Wealth Private Limited by Daiwa International Holdings Inc., structured as a minority equity subscription calculated on a fully diluted basis; the Acquirer is a Japan incorporated intermediary management holding company and the Target is a subsidiary engaged in wealth management services.

Acquisition of Aadhar Housing Finance 10.04% stake by AXDI LDII SPV 1 Ltd from BCP Topco VII approved.
Approval is recorded for the acquisition by AXDI LDII SPV 1 Ltd, an Abu Dhabi Global Market special-purpose vehicle, of a specified minority shareholding in Aadhar Housing Finance Limited from BCP Topco VII Pte. Ltd. Aadhar Housing Finance is a listed housing finance company registered with the National Housing Bank and registered as a corporate agent for insurance distribution; a detailed order will follow.

High-speed rail investments and freight corridors in the 2026-27 budget aim to transform passenger travel and logistics efficiency.
The Union Budget 2026-27 increases capital allocations to accelerate network modernisation focused on high-speed connectivity, widespread electrification, station redevelopment, passenger safety upgrades and a 40 km underground, four line corridor linking the North East, alongside dedicated freight corridors to separate goods traffic and support a 3,000 million tonne freight loading objective.

US-India trade deal cuts most Indian tariffs to 0% and lowers US tariff to 18%, expanding market access and standards recognition.
India will cut tariffs on a broad range of US industrial and agricultural products to zero for the vast majority of lines while retaining protection for certain sensitive sectors; the US will lower its reciprocal tariff on Indian imports to 18%. The agreement establishes a process to address non tariff technical barriers and to recognise certain US regulatory standards, and contemplates increased US exports of energy, technology and agricultural goods alongside sectoral exemptions and monitoring of energy sourcing.

India-US trade deal reduces reciprocal tariffs and advances cooperation on supply chains and critical minerals.
Jaishankar and Bessent discussed advancing the bilateral economic partnership and strategic cooperation with emphasis on securing supply chains and operationalising cooperation on critical minerals. The talks were framed by a trade understanding to reduce reciprocal US tariffs on India from 25 per cent to 18 per cent and included discussion of aligning tariff and sanction-related policies affecting energy purchases and geopolitical considerations.

India US cooperation on critical minerals and a reciprocal trade tariff reduction were welcomed and advanced.
India and the United States welcomed a reciprocal trade agreement and agreed to convene early meetings of mechanisms to operationalise cooperation on trade, energy, nuclear, defence and technology. They emphasised formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining and processing and committed to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad. The inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial aims to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains to support technological innovation, economic resilience and national security.

Rafah crossing reopened under security conditioned transit, allowing few medical evacuations while barring humanitarian imports.
The Rafah reopening established a security conditioned transit regime: Israel and Egypt jointly vet and screen small cohorts of medical evacuees and returnees, enforce strict baggage and escort rules, and prohibit importation of humanitarian goods, producing significant delays and throughputs far below announced allowances and limiting humanitarian access despite international calls to open the crossing as a functional humanitarian corridor.

Iran-US negotiations sought amid a US shootdown of an Iranian drone and maritime security incidents.
Iran directed its foreign minister to seek negotiations with the United States while a US jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone near a carrier. Talks, tentatively supported by regional hosts such as Turkey and Oman, are expected to begin indirectly and focus on the nuclear issue, moving to direct talks if a deal becomes attainable. Concurrent maritime incidents, including alleged harassment of a US-flagged merchant vessel and US escort response, highlight security risks affecting the diplomatic process.

Federal funding bill signed, ending a partial shutdown and temporarily funding Homeland Security for two weeks pending immigration talks.
President signed a roughly $1.2 trillion appropriations package that ends a brief partial federal shutdown by funding most agencies through September 30 while leaving Department of Homeland Security funding in place only for a two week period to compel further negotiations over immigration enforcement.

EAM Jaishankar meets US Sec. of State; US-India agreement reduces reciprocal tariff from 25% to 18%.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington before a Critical Minerals Ministerial, with Jaishankar holding additional meetings with senior U.S. officials. Concurrently, it was announced that India and the United States agreed to a trade arrangement reducing the reciprocal tariff from 25% to 18%.

US-Iran tensions: planned talks risk collapse after US shoots down Iranian drone near carrier and maritime harassment.
Iran's president instructed the foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations with the United States, with Turkey and regional states positioned to facilitate talks; US officials acknowledged planned discussions but contemporaneous military incidents - an F-35C shooting down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone near a carrier and IRGC harassment of a US-flag merchant vessel - complicate scheduling and political willingness. Negotiation scope is contested, with US/Israeli demands on Iran's nuclear programme and Iranian advisers proposing phased, nuclear-focused indirect talks.

House passage of $1.2 trillion spending package to end partial government shutdown; DHS funding extended short term.
The House passed a roughly $1.2 trillion appropriations package, 217-214, funding 11 of 12 annual bills through September 30 and sending the measure to the President, who has said he will sign it; the package includes a short-term funding patch for the Department of Homeland Security through February 13 while lawmakers negotiate changes to Homeland Security funding and enforcement operations.

Fraudulent property sale: excise official arrested for using forged allotment letter to register and sell a Gurugram plot.
An excise department official is accused of obtaining a fake allotment letter and, in collusion with developer employees, registering a conveyance deed on that basis to transfer and sell a Gurugram plot; an FIR names multiple accused, bail was rejected for some, and the official was arrested to be presented for police remand in the ongoing criminal investigation into property fraud and forgery.

House passes $1.2 trillion appropriations package to end partial government shutdown; DHS funding remains contested.
A House-passed roughly $1.2 trillion appropriations package (217-214) funds 11 of 12 annual appropriations bills, ending a partial government shutdown by financing most federal operations through the fiscal year and leaving Department of Homeland Security funding unresolved amid demands for enforcement restrictions.

Helicopter technical snag delays Maharashtra minister's campaign flight; regulator grounded the Agusta 109 pending rectification of rotor link issue.
A post flight inspection by an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer revealed excessive play in the pitch operating link rod of a main rotor blade on an Agusta 109. The defect was flagged, the helicopter was not released for further flights, the operator informed the chartering agency, and subsequent sorties were cancelled pending rectification; the regulator issued a precautionary grounding note.

Iran-US negotiations: Iran's president orders foreign minister to pursue fair, conditional talks amid rising tensions.
The president instructed the foreign minister to pursue fair and equitable negotiations with the United States provided a suitable environment free from threats and unreasonable expectations; talks, potentially facilitated by regional states, would initially be indirect, focus solely on nuclear issues, and face complicating security incidents such as the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone and substantive disputes over uranium enrichment and related demands.